Remote radio winch control unit

ABSTRACT

A hand-held radio frequency transmitter-receiver and driveengine control device for remotely controlling a winch, crane or other similar winding apparatus comprising a hand-held transmitter generating an r. f. signal, a remote receiver detecting and amplifying the r. f. signal, and relays further amplifying the output from the receiver to energize selectively solenoids controlling the associated winch and winch engine to provide forward-reverse winding control of the winch and speed and power control of the winch engine.

United States Patent Fiorentino 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [54] REMOTE RADIO WINCHCONTROL 1,653,172 12/1927 Hammond ..343/225 UNIT 2,751,534 6/1956Jefferson ..325/37 096 056 7/1963 Allison ..343/225 [72] Inventor.Antonio F. Florentino, 23 73 Cranbrook Street, Cranbmoki British3,437,997 4/1969 Yoshida et al ..343/225 C l b' C d am a PrimaryExaminer-Robert L. Griffin 1 1 Filed! 1969 Assistant Examiner-Joseph A.Orsino, Jr. 2 Appl No; 4 30 Attorney-John E. Prothroe [57] ABSTRACT [30]Foreign Application Priority Data A hand-held radio frequencytransmitter-receiver and Oct. 7, 1968 Canada ..O3l,78l drive enginecomm] device for remotely controlling a winch, crane or other similarwinding apparatus com- [52] 11.8. CI. ..343/225, 318/16, 325/37 prisinga hand held transmitter generating an L [51] 11!. Cl. 7/02, 7/00 Signal,a remote receiver detecting and p ifyi g the Field of Search L g andrelays further the output from the receiver to energize selectivelysolenoids [56] References C'ted controlling the associated winch andwinch engine to UNITED STATES PATENTS provide forward-reverse windingcontrol of the winch and speed and power control of the winch engine.2,769,601 11/1956 Hagopian ..343/225 3,215,912 1 1/1965 Bruno ..318/16 2Claims, 2 Drawing Figures seen/om I EE'LAY- EA 7 SOLE/VOID 2A 57 5saLruorD 2B PONEE \Sl/PPL Y RECEIVER [yes 1 TRANSMITTER REMOTE RADIOWINCH CONTROL UNIT This invention relates to winches, hoists, liftingand towing devices adapted to be controlled from a distance, and hasparticular application to the logging industry, where a single operatormay be required to operate a stationary winch from a remote position atthe cable end of the winch, for the purpose of yarding logs.

It has hitherto been the practice in the logging industry to require twooperators, one operating the winch controls from a position adjacent thewinch drum, in response to signals from a second man, handling the freeend of the winch cable.

Such practice has been found to be needlessly wasteful of labor, and maybe dangerous due to mistaken voice or hand signals between the twopersons involved.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing'a meanswhereby a single operator, handling the free end of the winch cable, maycontrol the winch precisely, without the risk of error induced bymisunderstood communications between two operators, and without thenecessity of a second operator positioned adjacent the winch.

The principal object and essence of my invention is, therefore, toprovide a means whereby a winch, crane, or other similar device may becontrolled remotely, by means of a simple hand-held signal transmittingdevice operating within range of a receiver unit situated adjacent thewinch or hoist, said receiving device being adapted to operate forwardand reverse solenoid controls on the associated winch or hoist, togetherwith an engine accelerator control on the hoist engine. No physicalconnection is necessary between the operator and the winch controls andthe dangers associated with electrical cable controls are avoided.

In broad aspect, the present invention comprises a hand-held transmittergenerating a signal, a remote receiver adapted to detect and amplify thesignal generated by the transmitter, means for amplifying the outputfrom such receiver in order selectively to energize solenoids positionedon the associated winch and winch engine, to provide for forward andreverse winding control of the winch and speed and power control of thewinch engine.

The invention is herein described by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof and in which there is set forth by way ofillustration and not by way of limitation, one form in which theapparatus of this invention may be constructed, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically and diagrammatically a winch controlcircuit embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 represents an alternative circuit for the index stepper switch ofFIG. 1, adapting the apparatus for reverse winch rotation with dead mancontrol.

The drawing FIG. 1 illustrates a logging winch system consisting of aportable transmitter 11, receiver unit 1 2, an amplification and controlunit circuit, a pair of solenoids 13 and 14 controlling a winch 15, anda further solenoid 16 controlling the winch engine 17 (not shown). Thewinch 15 is capable of being reversed, so that the remote operator mayunwind the winch cable 19 from the winch drum, as well as operate thewinch in winding condition.

The winch engine 17 will normally be of the gasolinedriven type, becauseof the weight restrictions associated with a semi-portable logging winchof the nature described.

The construction and operation of the transmitter 11, generating arelatively low radio frequency, and receiver 12, capable of detectingthe output signal from the transmitter, are well known and since thespecific details thereof form no part of this invention, furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is normally desirable thatthe transmitter should have an effective range of from to feet, in orderto permit effective use of the invention. The receiver 12 is energizedfrom a direct current 12 volt power supply at terminals 20 and 21 and isturned to detect a modulated radio frequency signal between the antennas22 and 23 of the transmitter and receiver. The receiver 12 includes apair of contact points Pl, connected by conductors 24 and 25 to energizethe Relay 1 with triple armatures 27, 28, and 29, and associated contactpoints P2, P3, and P4 respectively. A spring 26 urges the armaturesagainst the operation of the relay coil.

Relay point P2 is connected by conductor 30 to an index stepper switchgenerally designated 31, which includes a coil 32 and hammer 33. Aspring 34 urges the hammer 33 away from the coil 32, the hammer 33 beingurged downwardly when the coil 32 is energized, so that the detentportion 35 of the hammer 33 indexes an index cam 36 by one unit uponeach energization of the relay coil 32. In the embodiment depicted, thisunit ofindexing is one-twelfth of a revolution. A series of l2 contacts,A to L, are positioned on the index stepper switch, and a rotatingarmature 37 secured to the cam 36, makes selective contact with each ofsaid contact points. In the embodiment depicted, contacts A, D, and Jare electrically connected, as are contacts L, C, F and I. Contacts H,K, B and E are electrically neutral. Armature 37 is grounded at 38, andcoil 32 is grounded at 39.

Common points F, I, L and C are connected by conductor 40 to Relay 1A,and common contact points A, D, G and J are connected by conductor 41 toRelay 1B, Relays 1A and 1B being connected to points P3 and P4respectively of Relay 1 by conductors 42 and 43 respectively.

Relay 1A includes contact points P5, which are connected with the 12volt D C source by conductor 44, and to the coil of Relay 2A byconductor 45. Similarly, the'coil of Relay 18 includes contact pointsP7, which are connected by conductor 46 to the 12 volt D C power supplyand by conductor 47 to Relay 2B. Relay 2A includes the armature 48, coil49, and contact point P6, connected by conductor 50 to the 12 volt D Cpower supply, so that energization of the coil 49 creates a current pathto a solenoid designated 2A, comprising a power coil 51, and an armature52, connected with the forward winch control 53. A spring 54 urges thewinch control against the energized movement of the solenoid armature52.

Solenoid 1, operatively connected to the accelerator of the winch engine17, is energized from conductor 55, connected to contact points P6, sothat when contact points P6 close, the engine accelerator solenoid l6and forward winch control solenoids 14 are simultaneously energized.

Relay 2B includes a coil 56, armature 57, and a pair of contact pointsP8, the armature 57 being connected to the 12 volt direct current powersupply by conductor 58, so that when contact points P8 are closed, acurrent path is created in conductor 59, to energize solenoid 13,connected to the reverse winch control 60, by means of the armature 61.Spring 62 urges the reverse winch control 61 against the energizedmovement of the armature 61. A warning light 63 is connected byconductor 64 to conductor 59, so that the light will indicate theenergized condition of the solenoid 13.

A removable shorting bar 64 is inserted between contact points 65 and66,. In order to effect the dead man control feature for reverse winchrotation, the shorting bar 64 is removed, and the alternative connectionof the contacts A to L of the stepper switch 31 depicted in FIG. 2 areemployed.

OPERATION The remote control circuit has been designed to enable theoperator to manipulate the cable with both hands after depressing thetransmitter button or, alternatively, to require the transmitter buttonto be continually depressedin order to actuate the winch for eitherforward or reverse rotation, a condition known as dead man control.Where operating conditions are considered sufficiently hazardous, thedead man control circuit will be desirable, so that if for any reasonthe receiver 12 ceases to be energized by a signal from the transmitter11, the winch 15 will im mediately cease operation. Thus, should theoperator carry the transmitter 11 beyond the frequency range of thetransmitter, or should the transmitter or receiver cease functioning forany reason, or should the opera- -rent path is created from Relay 1 tothe index stepper switch 31 by conductor 30, which is energized from the12 volt power supply. Energizing of coil 32 in the index stepper switch31 causes the hammer 33 to move against the rotating cam 36, therebyindexing the cam by one unit and creating a current path from the groundthrough the conductor 38 and armature 37 to the contact points F, l, Land C to energize Relay 1A through closed contact points P3, to the 12volt source. The energizing of Relay 1A in turn energizes Relay 2Athrough the closing of contact points P and the creation of acurrent'path to the 12 volt power supply. The activation of Relay 2A andthe closing of contact points P6 will energize solenoid 2A by creating acurrent path to the 12 volt source. The movement of armature 52 insolenoid 2A operates the forward winch control 53; simultaneously, theengine accelerates, solenoid 1 is energized on the closing of contactpoints P6, and the winch engine 17 will be caused to accelerate.

When the finger is removed from the button on the transmitter 11, all ofthe contact points P1, P2, P3, P4,

P5, and P6 will open and solenoids 1 and 2A will return to their neutralposition under the action of the associated spring biasing. j b.Condition of Control Circuit for Reverse Winch Rotation (Unwinding) withFree-Hand Operation It is desirable that the operator should be able tohandle the winch cable 19 with both hands during the unwindingoperation, and for this purpose the dead man control condition iseliminated. When the button on the transmitter 11 is depressedmomentarily, a signal is picked up by the receiver 12, and Relay 1 isenergized and points P2, P3, and P4 will close. Coil 32 of index stepperswitch 31 will be momentarily energized, pulling down hammer 33, andindexing the index cam 36 into another clockwise step. Armature 37 willthen make contact with contact point G and current will flow from groundthrough conductor 38, armature 37, contact point G, conductor 41 toenergize Relay 18 through the shorting bar 64 connected to the 12 voltsource. Contact points P7 will thereby be closed and Relay 28 will beenergized, resulting in contact points P8 being closed. Solenoid 2B isthus energized, thereby actuating reverse winch control the warninglight 63 will be on. This condition will continue, notwithstandingrelease of the transmitter button, because of the presence of theshorting bar 64 in the circuit shorts out the open contacts P4. In orderto stop the winch, the transmitter button is momentarily depressed andreleased, which sends a further pulse through the circuit, turning thearmature 36 of the index stepper switch 31 a further step clockwise, tothe neutral H, thereby interrupting current flow to Relay 18, openingRelay 2B and deenergizing solenoid 2B, whereupon the reverse winchcontrol 60 returns to its closed position under biasing of the spring62. It will be understood that contact points G, J, A and D of the indexstepper switch are all electrically common, and contact by the rotatingarmature 37 with any of these points will create the circuit conditionjust described. I 0. Condition of Circuit Control for Reverse WinchRotation (Unwinding) with Dead Man Control In order to convert thecircuit for dead man control for reverse winch rotation, the shortingbar 64 is removed, so that the operation of the circuit depends oncontact points P2, P3, and P4 being closed, which condition prevailsonly when the receiver 12 is being energized by the modulated radiofrequency signal from the transmitter. The contacts A to L of the indexstepper switch 31 are connected as depicted in FIG. 2, so that contactsA, C, E, G, I and K are electrically common, and contacts B, D, F, H, Jand L are electrically common. Thus, successive pulse signals from thetransmitter 11 will cause either forward or reverse rotation of thewinch l5, responsive to the signal of the transmitter 11 causing closureof the points P2, P3 and P4 of the Relay 1 only during persistence ofeach pulse signal.

Although this invention has been described in its ments may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention ashereinafter claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A remote control for engine-driven winches having forward and reverseoperating conditions comprising in combination:

a. a transmitter adapted to transmit a signal;

b. a receiver responsive to the signal transmitted by said transmitter;

c. a forward winch control solenoid and linkage connecting said forwardwinch control solenoid with said forward winch control;

d. a reverse winch control solenoid and linkage connecting said winchcontrol solenoid with said reverse winch control;

e. a winch engine accelerator control solenoid electrically connected inparallel with said forward winch control solenoid, and linkageconnecting said accelerator control solenoid with said accelerator ofsaid winch engine;

f. a source of electrical power;

g. primary switch means comprising a first receiveroperated relay havingthree switch sets, each of which is closed only when said receiver isreceiving and responding to a signal;

h. an index stepper switch in circuit with said source of electricalpower through a first of said switch sets of said primary switch means,and having a first set of index contacts operatively connecting with aforward winch control relay in circuit with said forward winch controlsolenoid, and having a second set of index contacts operativelyconnecting with a reverse winch control relay in circuit with saidreverse winch control solenoid;

i. circuit connectionsadapted to complete a circuit connecting a secondof said switch sets of said primary switch means with said source ofelectrical power and said forward winch control solenoid and said winchengine accelerator control solenoid when said forward winch controlrelay is in closed position; and

j. circuit connections adapted to complete a circuit connecting a thirdof said switch sets of said primary switch means with said source ofelectrical power and said reverse winch control solenoid when saidreverse winch control relay is in closed position; 7

so that operation of each of said index stepper switch,

said forward winch control solenoid, said accelerator control solenoidand said reverse winch control solenoid will occur only duringpersistence of said signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally including electricalshorting means whereby said second and third of said switch sets of saidprimary switch means may selectively be shorted out of said circuit,therebypptionally adapting the forward or reverse winch rotationcondition of said apparatus for continuous operation notwithstanding thediscontinuation of said signal.

1. A remote control for engine-driven winches having forward and reverseoperating conditions comprising in combination: a. a transmitter adaptedto transmit a signal; b. a receiver responsive to the signal transmittedby said transmitter; c. a forward winch control solenoid and linkageconnecting said forward winch control solenoid with said forward winchcontrol; d. a reverse winch control solenoid and linkage connecting saidwinch control solenoid with said reverse winch control; e. a winchengine accelerator control solenoid electrically connected in parallelwith said forward winch control solenoid, and linkage connecting saidaccelerator control solenoid with said accelerator of said winch engine;f. a source of electrical power; g. primary switch means comprising afirst receiver-operated relay having three switch sets, each of which isclosed only when said receiver is receiving and responding to a signal;h. an index stepper switch in circuit with said source of electricalpower through a first of said switch sets of said primary switch means,and having a first set of index contacts operatively connecting with aforward winch control relay in circuit with said forward winch controlsolenoid, and having a second seT of index contacts operativelyconnecting with a reverse winch control relay in circuit with saidreverse winch control solenoid; i. circuit connections adapted tocomplete a circuit connecting a second of said switch sets of saidprimary switch means with said source of electrical power and saidforward winch control solenoid and said winch engine accelerator controlsolenoid when said forward winch control relay is in closed position;and j. circuit connections adapted to complete a circuit connecting athird of said switch sets of said primary switch means with said sourceof electrical power and said reverse winch control solenoid when saidreverse winch control relay is in closed position; so that operation ofeach of said index stepper switch, said forward winch control solenoid,said accelerator control solenoid and said reverse winch controlsolenoid will occur only during persistence of said signal.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1 additionally including electricalshorting means whereby said second and third of said switch sets of saidprimary switch means may selectively be shorted out of said circuit,thereby optionally adapting the forward or reverse winch rotationcondition of said apparatus for continuous operation notwithstanding thediscontinuation of said signal.